31^st March to 4^th April 2025

Week A

End of Term Arrangements

School will be closing on Friday 4^th April at 12:40pm for pupils.  Lunch will be available for pupils on free school meals if required.  School reopens after the Easter break on Tuesday 22^nd April for all years at the normal time.

Parents' Evenings

Y7 have their parents' evening on Thursday next week. Y12/13 have their parents' evening on 24^th April and not tonight as stated in the newsletter last week. Apologies for any confusion.

Y9 Immunisation Catch-Up Session - Diphtheria, Tetanus, Polio, and Meningitis ACWY

There is a session on Monday for boys who missed their immunisation recently. A copy of the consent form is attached to the newsletter.

Y8 Chester University Visit

A reminder that all Y8 will be visiting Chester University for the day on Tuesday 1^st April. School uniform is required and boys must bring a packed lunch. Grab bags will be provided for boys entitled to free school meals.

Y8 Cadet Recruitment Evening

Invites have been sent out to pupils to attend this event on Thursday next week.

New York Sports Tour 2025

Last week, we took 69 students to New York City, where the students went up skyscrapers, watched an NHL game at Madison Square Garden, and trained with the New York Red Bulls. Students got to experience many of the unique things New York has to offer including: baseball batting cages and the Statue of Liberty, as well as playing against a very strong academy team from New Jersey! 

Students also got to spend time at Ground Zero and visit the 9/11 Memorial Museum, giving them an important learning experience to finish the trip. This trip gives our students the opportunity to visit one of the most famous places in the world, and our students really enjoyed seeing and experiencing what New York has to offer. 

Keep your eyes on the newsletter in the coming months as we look to announce further sports tours for various year groups. 

UPSA

Students of the Uniformed Protective Services Academy attended Liverpool Crown Court to observe live trials and sentencing for criminal damage, manslaughter, robbery, ABH, theft, handling stolen goods and drug offences. This trip gives students access to and an understanding of how the criminal justice system works in the UK.

Rotary Dinner

Last week, we played host to pensioners from local care homes for an evening of food and music. Residents were waited on by staff and students and entertained by a jazz band. Many walked away with raffle prizes and a good time was had by all.

Library

In honour of Autism Acceptance Week, our next Book of the Week is All the Pieces of Me by Libby Scott and Rebecca Westcott.  Libby is a teenager who became famous by writing about her life and autism and since then she and Westcott have written a number of really compelling and relatable teen books that focus on this subject. For 14 year old Tally, starting Year 9 is not proving easy.  Attempting to maintain friendships is exhausting, understanding teachers’ expectations is challenging and making sense of all the spoken and unspoken rules of school life is quite simply a nightmare. Plus, being on the autistic spectrum, she finds the combination of shouting, canteen smells, floor polish and fluorescent strip lighting a painful onslaught on her senses. Then, to top it all, best friend Layla announces that she’s moving to the States, leaving a lonely Tally with some tough decisions to make on the friendship front.  It appears that there can sometimes be a hefty price tag attached to being accepted in a group - the question is whether it’s one Tally is prepared to pay. 

For book events, reading recommendations and more, follow us on Instagram @library_mosslands

Supporting Boys in the Digital Age: Guidance for Parents and Carers

The Netflix series Adolescence has sparked important discussions about the challenges facing young boys and men today, particularly in relation to toxic masculinity, incel culture, and online radicalisation. The series tells the story of a 13-year-old boy who becomes involved in a tragic incident after being influenced by harmful online content, highlighting how young people—especially boys—can be drawn into dangerous online spaces. Due to the popularity of this series, it has brought attention to this subject and it serves as a reminder of the importance of parents and carers being proactive in guiding their children through the digital world.

Below are some key strategies to help support young men and mitigate these risks:

1. Stay actively engaged in your child’s digital life. Jack Thorne, co-creator of Adolescence, has stated that he will withhold smartphones from his own son until at least the age of 14 to limit exposure to harmful online content and the pressures of social media. We know that some parents in our community have chosen to give their children basic phones that do not allow access to social media, but we also recognise that many face pressure from their children to provide the latest devices.

2. If your child does have a smartphone, consider the following steps:
   1. ● Have an open-phone policy – regularly check messages and social media to see who they are communicating with.
   2. ● Limit access at night – keep phones and other devices downstairs overnight to reduce social media use at bedtime.
   3. ● Talk to them about their online presence – ask what apps they use, what privacy settings they have, and who they interact with.
   4. ● Educate yourself – learn about online subcultures that may promote harmful ideologies, such as incel forums, so you can have informed discussions.

3. Teach the importance of healthy relationships
   The charity https://www.everyonesinvited.uk/ has highlighted how toxic behaviours can emerge at a young age. Encourage open conversations about respect, consent, and appropriate interactions to help your child develop a healthy understanding of relationships. For example:

● Normalise discussions about respect and boundaries

● Teach your child that consent is not just about sex - it applies to personal space, sharing information and emotional boundaries

● Use age-appropriate examples - hugging a friend, borrowing something from a peer

● Discuss media portrayals of masculinity in films, music and social media

● Challenge harmful attitudes - e.g. boys will be boys

● Teach your child that real strength comes from respect and empathy and not dominance or control.

4. Encourage critical thinking about online content. Engaging in open discussions about the potential dangers of online material—including the spread of misogynistic ideologies—can help raise awareness and promote independent thinking.

Encourage your child to:

● Be sceptical, not cynical – ask: Who wrote this? Why was it written?

● Recognise bias – not everything online is true, and even reputable sources can have an agenda.

● Spot manipulation tactics – Identify clickbait headlines, emotionally charged language, and confirmation bias.

● Be aware of AI-generated content – show them how to fact-check claims using multiple sources before forming an opinion.

5. Provide positive male role models. Boys need strong, positive influences in their lives. Fathers, male carers, and mentors can model empathy, respect, and emotional expression to counteract societal pressures that equate masculinity with aggression or emotional suppression.

Need Further Support? If you are concerned about your child’s online activity or any views they have expressed, please contact their house office or the Safeguarding Team at:

faraday@mosslands.wirral.sch.uk

grenfell@mosslands.wirral.sch.uk

ruskin@mosslands.wirral.sch.uk

safeguarding@mosslands.wirral.sch.uk

Please also refer to the attached document about the use of emojis in messages and what they may be in relation to.

We are here to support you and can signpost you to further resources if needed. By working together, we can help young people navigate the digital world safely and confidently.

Macbeth

A group of thirty boys from Y10 and 11 enjoyed an excellent production of Macbeth at the Floral this afternoon. Macbeth is a set text at GCSE and seeing it on stage really brought the play to life for our boys. 

Bake Sale on Monday is in aid of PDSA.

External Sports Tour

Three of our Y8 pupils recently travelled to Hamburg in Germany, representing Wirral School Boys, U13s football team.  

During the four-day trip, the team played friendly matches against Eintract Norderstedt and TSV Kronshagen, whilst also enjoying sightseeing and cultural experiences around Germany.

The tour culminated with the team being invited to watch top Bundesliga sides Holstein Kiel v Bayer Leverkusen.

It was a very enriching experience for the team to play international football, whilst making many memories and new friendships.  Wirral School Boys hope to host a return leg in the near future. 

As ever, the boys represented their families, school, Wirral and most importantly, themselves to the highest of standards. Well done Lucas, Dylan & Bobby!

Art Department

You can follow us on Instagram @art_mosslands to see some fabulous examples of the work produced by our students.

Reporting an Absence 

Parents must telephone the school attendance line (0151 638 8131, option 1) on the first day of absence before 8.45am and on each subsequent day of absence. Alternatively, you can email attendance@mosslands.wirral.sch.uk. Please do not use the admin@mosslands email or the contact school option on the My Child at School app as these do not go directly to attendance, and you may still get a truancy call. It is our duty to keep your child safe, so if you do not inform us, you will receive a truancy call. You will receive 6 further calls until you respond.  The number which will display as an incoming call is a Sheffield number, 0114 303 4042.

Medication in School

If you have any questions or concerns regarding medication in school, please contact the SEND Department. Students should not bring medication into school and any medication should be registered at reception. If your child is diagnosed as being asthmatic, following on from medical guidelines, please ensure they have an inhaler on then at all times and that we hold a spare within school. Many thanks.